Heat exchanger



A, 13, 1940. B. G. NEWHALL 2,211,514

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Aug. 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. I m

B. G. NEWHALL HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Aug. 30, 19:57

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 n wi- Patented Aug. 13, 1940 HEAT EXCHANGER Benjamin G. Newhall, Forest Park, 11]., assignor to Mojonnier Bros. 00., a corporation of Illi-' nois Application August 30, 1937, Serial No. 161,556

The present invention relates to heat exchangers of the separable unit type, and more particularly to those exchangers in which the boxes.

4 Claims.

units are hinged to swing about parallel axes.

.The invention belongs to the type of exchangers illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,040,-

947, dated May 19, 1936, but differs therefrom in that it employs tubular hinges having stufllng One object of the invention isto provide novel structure of the type mentioned in which the headers or manifolds for the several units of an exchanger are fixed and need not be removed or taken out when it is desired to take down one or more of the units.

Another object is to provide a stufllng box type of exchanger in which the overall dimensions are kept down to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a structure such that when it is desired to take down a unit, which of course has stufiing box connections, the unit may be freed by a minimum displacement.

exacting.

The various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be best understood upon reference to the following detailed description, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Insaid drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a heat exchanger constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention,'illustrating one heat exchange unit in elevation, the plane of section being between two such units and as indicated by the line l-l of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the complete structure taken on a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the hollow hinge connections upon a larger scale, the plane of section being indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the structure of Fig. 3 taken on 'a plane indicated by the line l-l'of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a split ring, such as are employed in the hinge connections. Throughout these views like characters refer to like parts.

The principal parts of the exchanger include a main frame A, a series of vertical heat exchanger units B, appropriately positioned headers or manifolds C, C, interposed hollow hinge connections D, D, D a distributor E located above the units, and a receiver F located below the units.

The main frame A includes a base portion in which the receiver F is located and an upright portion which carries the headers. The base portion includes a bottom 10 which is provided with sides ll, l2, a forward end l3, and a transverse partition I4 extending between the walls ll, 12. These parts form the box like construction of the receiver F. The bottom l0 of'the receiver is depressed somewhat, toward the-forward end of the receiver, as indicated at l5, and thus provides for draining the liquid from the receiver to an outlet pipe It. The latter isfprovided at its outer end with a connection I! which is threaded to receive a drain pipe or other suitable connection for carrying off the liquid which is collected after being treated by the units B. The bottom I0 is provided with short legs l8 having ball feet IS. The latter engage the supporting surface on which the exchanger stands. The upper edge of the receiver F is shaped so as to provide a reentrant groove 20 and an outwardly extending lip 2| just above it. This groove and lip cooperate with the hinged cover ordinarily employed to inclose the units. The cover or covers are not shown' in the present drawings but, obviously, may be like those of the aforementioned Patent No. 2,040,947. The material out of which the bottom l0 and associated receiver F are made is sheet metal, preferably of the stainless kind.

The vertical portion of the frame A preferably takes the form of a rectangular frame comprising vertical channel members 22, 23 which are secured to the bottom 10 and the walls ll, l2 of the base at the back of the exchanger. These members 22, 23 are connected together at their top by a similar channel member 24. All of these parts are composed of metal, preferably of the stainless variety, and are secured together in any suitable way, preferably by welding. 41 solid upright structure for the support of the headers C, C' is thus provided.

The heat exchange units B are substantially the same as those disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,040,947. In the present instance each unit has an upper section 21 and a lower section 28. The units as a whole is made up of two sheets of metal, preferably stainless, which are pressed to form grooves or depressions such that when the two sheets are brought together and secured together by welding, or otherwise as desired, there will be passageways for the heat exchange medium extending through the interior of each section. The passages, in the case of section 21, will extend from the. inlet 29 to the outlet 38. Similarly, in the case of section 28, the passages will extend from inlet 3| to outlet 32. As shown, the inlet 29 communicates with the hinge connection D, the outlet connection 39 communicates with the upper hinge connection D, the inlet connection 3| communicates with the hinge connection D", and the outlet connection 32 connects with the lower hinge connection D. Without going further into the details of construction of the units B, it may be pointed out that the flow of the heat exchange medium, in the case of the upper section C, will extend from the inlet 29 through parallel paths to the space 33 at the right, thence through parallel paths to the space 35 at the left, thence by similar paths to the space 35 at the right, thence to the space 35 at the left, and so on back and forth to the uppermost passages and thence out through the outlet connection 38. Similarly, the flow of the heat exchange medium, in the case of the lower section 28, will include passages connecting spaces 31, 38, 39, 48, and so on, through to the uppermost passage and thence out through the outlet connection 32. The units B also have their inner and outer ends turned laterally to form strengthening flanges 43, M.

The headers C, C which are carried upon the upright portion of the frame A and which constitute the supports for the stufling box connections D, D, D comprise in each instance a main portion 41 and a branch 48. The portion 41 is of suflicient length to extend between the channel members 22, 23. The branch 48 in each instance is preferably positioned midway of the main portion 41 of the header and thus occupies a position midway between the channel members 22, 23. The ends of the main portions 41 of the headers are preferably secured to the adjacent webs of the channel members 22, 23 by screw bolts 49. The extensions 48 are connected to pipes which serve to supply the heat exchange medium to the unit sections and carry the same from them. Thus, pipes 58'and 5| are inlet pipes, and connect with the inlet headers C and C associated with the lower passages of the sections 28 and 21, respectively. Similarly, the pipes 52, 53 are connected with the outlet headers C, associated with the upper passages of the sections 28 and 21, respectively.

From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that the headers C, C are identical in construction but that the header C is reversed in position in respect to the other headers. So-to speak, the headers C are placed in upright position and the header C is turned upside down.

Coming now to the stufllng box hinge connections D, D, D, it will be observed that they are similar in construction. Indeed, the only difference between the connections D and D is that the latter is provided with a sanitary coupling 55. Likewise, the connections D and D are alike except that the latter is longer, thisbeing necessary in order to clear the header C just below it.

In order to determine the exact construction of the different hinge connections D, D and D reference may be had particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the connection D associated with the lowermost header C is shown in detail. As

there shown, the connection includes a straight pipe portion 58 which is fitted into an opening or bore in the upperv wall 59 of the header C. A stuifing box 58 has threaded engagement; as indicated at El, with the opening in the wall 59. The stuffing box has, near its lower end, a projection 52 which is in the form of an inwardly projecting flange extending completely around the inside of the member 58 and in position to bear against the outer surface of the pipe portion 58 of the connection. As clearly shown, the

straight pipe portion 58 is provided near its lower end with an annular groove 53. When the parts are assembled, this groove lies just below the annular flange 62 upon the stufllng box 58. A split ring 54 is adapted to rest in the groove 53 and bear upon the under side of the flange 52 and upon the upper face of the adjacent projection 65 of the header wall 59. At this point, it will be noted that the header wall 59 extends by its projection 55 far enough to engage the outer wall of the straight pipe portion 58. A lead gasket 55 lies in an annular groove in the upper face of the projection 55 in position to be engaged by the lower end of the gland or stufllng box 50. When the parts are assembled, the stufiing box is filled with a number of packing elements 65 in the form of rings of suitable packing material, which pass down within the box 80, and engage the outer wall of the pipe portion 58. A packing gland nut 61 is threaded on its exterior into the interiorly threaded upper end of the box 60, and, when screwed home, serves to compress the packing and thus make a tight joint between the pipe portion 58 and the header wall 59.

When it is desired to separate the pipe portion 58 from the header, then it is necessary to unscrew the nut 61, thereby loosening the packing, and then unscrew the stuffing box 60 from the header sufficiently to move the pipe portion 58 and the associated split ring 64 so that the latter will clear the header wall. When this position is reached, the parts of the ring 64 may be separated and removed from engagement with the groove 63. As soon as this is done, the pipe 58 may be readily withdrawn from the header.

.It will be noted that the full connection D includes, not only the straight pipe section 58, but also the curved pipe 10 and the horizontal pipe member 1|, which latter member is connected directly to the heat exchange unit'B. In manufacturing the unit B, an opening is left between the plates, which are welded together to make up the unit, and this opening is adapted to receive the large end of the pipe member 1| in the same manner that the corresponding parts are fitted and connected in the aforesaid Patent 2,040,947. The straight pipe 58, and the curved pipe 10, are preferably formed independently and then connected together by welding along the peripheral line or zone 12. Of course, these pipe members might be formed and manufactured in some other way. The way described, however, has been found quite satisfactory.

To continue with the hinge connection D it will be noted that the outer end of the pipe 1| is provided with a head 13 which is externally threaded for the reception of a flanged union nut 14. The flange 15 on the nut 14 cooperates with a flange 18 on the adjacent end of the pipe member 10, to provide a. tight connection when the union nut 14 is screwed home. The head 13 is provided with a depression 11, and the end of the pipe 10 is provided with an annular projection 18, which projection fits into the depression 11 when the parts are brought together. A gasket 19, of fiber or other like material, is

- located in the groove TI, and, when the parts are brought together, this gasket is forced home by the cooperating end 18, and thus a tight joint is provided betweenthe pipe portions I8 and II.

Obviously, where a coupling, such as the coupling 56, is not required in the horizontal portion of the connection, then the curved pipe portion and the horizontal pipe portion may be connected together permanently by welding or otherwise as desired. This is true of the connections D. In them the vertical pipe portions 56 are welded, as at 12, to the curved pipe portions 82, and the latter in turn are welded, as at 83, to the horizontal pipe portions 84. In other words, the connections are modified so as to avoid the use of a pipe coupling such as the coupling 56.

When we come to the connection D, we find the pipe portion 58 welded as before to an elbow 85, corresponding to the portions I0 and 82 previously mentioned. In this instance, in order to give the required clearance, the elbow 85 is connected to another elbow 86, by welding or the like at 81, and the elbow 86 is connected by a straight portion 88 to a third elbow or curved portion 89, welding being employed to connect the parts together as before.

It will be notedthat the straight pipe portions 58 of'theseveral connections D, D, D for each unit lie .in one and the same axial line, said line being-in each instance the axis of rotation of the associated unit B. Thus, the several units B may be swung about their respective axes to give access for cleaning as in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,040,947. The split ring construction of these connections strongly resist longitudinal movement along said axes due to pressure within the units and their connections from whatever cause. Where a readily vaporizable heat control medium, such as ammonia, is employed, this pressure may be considerable. The reverse positioning of the connection D relative to the other connections D, D causes an opposition in the forces applied to the units by the contained medium, and thus reduces the resultant force along each axis of rotation.

Now, when it becomes necessary to remove one of the units B, the first step is tobreak the connection D. This is done by removing the union nut 14 of the coupling 56. This act operatively disconnects the lower portion of the associated unit B from the header C. Then, upon loosening up the packing nut 61, that portion of the. connection which r'emains in connection with the header C, namely the pipe portions 58 and 10, may be readily rotated out of the way so as to remove all obstructions to the downward travel of the unit when freed at the connections D and D above.

From what has been said before, it will be apparent that the other connections, D and D, may be loosened up so as to free the vertical pipe portions 58 from the header walls 59. This is accomplished by loosening" up the packing nut 61 so as to reduce the packing pressure and then unscrewing the stufling box 60 and removing both 1 nut 61 and box 68 from the header. When this is done the split rings 64 may be removed. As soon as these rings are removed, then the three connections D, D, D can have their vertical pipe portions 58 drawn down, out of and away from their headers C, thus freeing the entire unit for removal from the exchanger. When it comes to replacing the unit by another unit, or replacing the same unit after repair, then the vertical pipe portions 58 of the three upper connections D, D are brought into place with their split rings in position and their packing boxes 66 and packing nuts 61 screwed up tight. When this is done, then the lower swiveled portion of the connection D can be moved back into place and proper connection made with the unit B through the associated pipe H by means of the coupling 56.

In a full exchanger there will be provided a distributor 'E for supplying liquid to the several units B. This may take the form of the distributor disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,040,947. This unit need not be particularly described therefore. Suffice it to say that it has a bottom 92, with suitably located apertures in it, and peripheral walls 93, 94. Apipe connection 95 enables liquid to be supplied to the distributor. Preferably the distributor rests upon the upper edges of the units as in the aforesaid patent.

The headers may be made up in standard form with any desired number of connection openings. In the example illustrated, each header, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, is provided with six openings and is capable of caring for six heat exchange units B. However there are but four such units in place. are closed by plugs 96;

It will be apparent that in carrying out my invention, certain alterations and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the .invention. Because of this fact, it is aimed by the terms of the appended claims to include all of those alterations and modifications which rightly come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1.' A heat exchanger comprising a rigid substantially upright frame, a heat exchange unit adapted to extend in a substantially vertical plane outward from said upright frame, a pair of inlet headers, a pair of outlet headers, all of said headers being secured to said upright frame in vertical alinement and in vertically spaced relation, inlet and outlet hollow hinge connections uniting saidheaders to said unit at four points respectively adjacent to said headers, said connections providing passageways for the heat exchange medium into said unit from said inlet headers and out of said unit into said outlet headers, each of said connections including straight and curved pipe portions, the former in each case extending vertically and fitting into an opening in the wall of the associated header, the straight pipe portions in the three upper headers extending downward and the straight pipe portion in the lowermost header extending upward and all of said vertically extending straight pipe portions lying in the vertical pivotal axis of the unit, each of said conections includ-- ing also a stuffing box having threaded engagement withthe associated header opening and having an inwardly extending flange bearing against the outside of the associated straight pipe portion, a split ring fitting into anannular groove formed in the exterior of said pipe portion near its end, said ring also extending outward of said straight pipe portion into position to engage said inwardly extending stuffing box flange on the one hand and a portion of the associated header wall on the other hand, said flange'and wall portion providing an opening for the associated straight pipe portion of substantially the same diameter as said straight pipe portion, and 75 the end of said stufling box passing just outward of said split ring when the parts are in assembled position, packing within said stufling box pressing against the exterior of said straight pipe portion, a packing gland nut fitting against said vertical pipe portion and threaded into said stufling box to compress said packing, and quickly releasable coupling means associated with said lower most connection and located between its curved pipe portion and said unit whereby the straight and curved pipe portions of said connection may be separated from the unit and turned out of the way to permit ready downward movement of the unit away from said three upper headers when the corresponding connections are properly loosed by turning off the associated packing gland nut and otherwise freeing the split ring.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a rigid frame, a plurality of vertically positioned heat exchange units, each unit having two heat exchange sections, the corresponding sections of the units constituting upper and lower sets of sections, an inlet header and an outlet header for each of said sets of sections, each of said headers being common to all of said units, four hollow hinge connections for each of said units, the corresponding connections of the units constituting four sets of connections, the lowermost set extending l1pward from the first and lowermost header and extending into communication with the lower portions of the lower sections of said units, the other three sets of connections extending downward from the other headers respectively and extending into communication with the units, the second set with the upper portions of the lower sections, the third set with the lower portions of the upper sections, and the fourth set with the upper portions of the upper sections, means for connecting those parts of the connections which engage the headers, so as to provide a pivotal connection and yet a connection which will strongly resist movement in a vertical direction, said connecting means in the case of each hollow hinge connection comprising a vertically extending straight pipe portion and a curved pipe portion, those vertically extending pipe portions associated with each unit lying in the vertical axis of rotation of the associated unit, a stufling box for each vertical pipe portion threaded into an opening in the associated header and having an inwardly extending flange bearing against the outside of the associated straight pipe portion, a split ring fitting into an annular groove formed in the exterior of said pipe portioni'near its end, said ring also extending outward of said straight pipe portion into position to engage said inwardly extending stufling box flange on the one hand and a portion of the associated header wall on the other hand, said flange and wall portion providing an opening for the associated straight pipe portion of substantially the same diameter as said straight pipe portion, and the end of said stufling box passing just outward of said split ring when the parts are in assembled position, packing within said stufling box pressing against the exterior of said straight pipe portion, a packing gland nut fitting against said vertical pipe portion and threaded into said stufling box to compress said packing, and quickly releasable coupling means associated with each of the lowermost hinge connections for separating the straight and curved pipe portions of the connection from the associated unit, whereby the straight and curved pipe portions of said connection may be rotated about the axis of rotation of the unit away from the rest of the connection and thus provide free space for the ready downward movement of the unit away from the three upper headers when the three upper connections are properly loosed by turning off the associated packing gland nut and otherwise freeing the split ring.

3. In a heat exchanger, a header, a hollow hinge connection, and a heat exchange unit, said connection serving as a hinge member to mechanically support said unit and as a conduit to conduct liquid from said header to said unit or vice versa, said hinge connection comprising straight and curved pipe portions, the former fitting into an opening in said header wall, a stuffing box having a threaded engagement with the header opening and having an inwardly extending flange bearing against the outside of the straight pipe portion, a split ring fitting into an annular groove formed in the exterior of said straight pipe, portion near its end within said header, said ring also extending outward of said straight pipe portion into position to engage said inwardly extending stufling box flange on the one hand and a portion of the associated header .wall on the other hand, said flange and wall portion providing an opening for the associated straight pipe portion of substantially the same diameter as said straight pipe portion, and the end of said stufling box passing just outward of said split ring when the parts are in assembled position, packing within said stufiing box pressing against the exterior of said straight pipeportion, and a packing gland nut fitting against said vertical pipe portion and threaded into said stufilng box to compress said packing.

4. A heat exchanger comprising an upright supporting frame, a plurality of heat exchange units adapted to extend in substantially vertical planes outward from said upright frame, a pair of inlet headers, a pair of outlet headers, all of said headers being secured to said upright frame in vertical alinement and in vertically spaced relation, inlet and outlet hollow hinge connections uniting said headers to said units, each unit being connected to at four points respectively adjacent to said headers, each of said connections including straight and curved pipe portions, the former in each case extending vertically and fitting into an opening in the wall of the associated header, the straight pipe portions in three of said headers extending in one direction and the straight pipe portions in the remaining header extending in the opposite direction and all of the straight pipe portions of each unit lying in the vertical pivotal axis of that unit, each of said connections including also a stufling box having threaded engagement with the associated header opening and having an inwardly extending flange bearing against the outside of the associated straight pipe portion, a split ring fitting into an annular groove formed in the exterior of said pipe portion near its end, said ring also extending outward of said straight pipe portion into position to engage said inwardly extending stufling box flange on the one hand and a portion of the associated header wall on the other hand, said flange and wall portion providing an opening for the associated straight pipe-portion of substantially the same diameter as said straight pipe portion, and the end of said stufiing box passing just outward of said split ring when the parts are in assembled position, packing within said stufling box pressing against the exterior of said straight pipe portion, a packconnection may be separated from the associated unit and turned out of the way to permit ready vertical movement of the unit from the remaining' headers when their corresponding connections are properly operated to free the split ring. 5

BENJAMIN G. NEWHALL. 

